Process of and apparatus for the manufacture of gas



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B. LOOMIS.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE 01? GAS. No. 404,205.. Patented May 28, 1889.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 2.- B. LOOMIS.

Patented May 28, 1889.

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PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. No. 404.206.

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PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE- MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

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(No Model.)

B. LOOMIS.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

Patented May 28, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURDETT LOOMIS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,205, dated May 28, 1889.

I Application filed February 18, 1887. Serial No. 228,095- (No model.)

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURDETT LOOMIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford,

in the county of Hartford and State of Con-v of illuminating and heating gas in cupola generating furnaces, and embraces certain improvements in the process and apparatus, whereby the hydrocarbon vapors given off from fresh charges of bituminous coal or slack may be better converted into fixed gas by passage through heated fuel before escaping from the generator, and whereby hydrocarbon oil such as naphthais better vaporized and mingled with water-gas in retorts or vaporizingchambers at a moderate temperature before exposure to the high heat of the fixing-chamber, so that loss and waste of oil heretofore experienced by its destructive decomposition and the consequent formation of lamp-black and hard carbon is prevented and the manufacture of gas thus cheapened and improved, and whereby the apparatus is simplified in construction, made more compact, and can be more conveniently and effectually operated at comparatively small expense. My cupola generator is made double-that is, with two fuel and decomposing chambers and two superheating and fixing chambers in one shell, so connected by pipes and valves that each set, composed of a fuel-chamber and asuperheating and fixing chamber, can be operated separately, or the two sets can be operated together as one apparatus for manufacturing gas. The cupola is provided with suitable supply-pipes for air and steam and with take off pipes leading from its top and bottom, so that air or steam can be passed up or down through the fuel as its varying conditions require and products of combustion or gas can be passed off either at its top or bottom.

The matter constituting my invention will be defined in the claims.

The details of construction and operation will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical section from front to back of the cupola generator and the boiler, partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 2 represents avertical section from side to side at right angles to the section in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a rear elevation with the valve boxes and pipes partly in section.-

Fig. 4. represents a horizontal section through the cupola above the grates and a top plan view of the boiler and connecting-pipes and the condenser and scrubber. Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section of the double boil er.

The cupola generator A is built of brick, with a lining of fire-brick and an inclosing iron jacket, which is tightly riveted in the usual manner. A central vertical fire-brick partition, Y, having incased within the brick the tight iron plate y, which is riveted to the outer iron jacket, divides the cupola from front to back, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and the horizontal brick partition WV divides it across, forming at top the two fuel-chambers B B and at bottom the two superheating and fixing chambers C C. The gratesbbof the fuelchambers are formed of deep fire-clay bars, which taper from top to bottom and rest directly upon the partition or floor W. These grates thus arranged have been found most satisfactory in practice, since iron Ones too quickly burn out and fire-clay bars break readily if not supported as here shown. An opening, X, and door x areprovided in each chamber for giving access to clean out the ashes between the bars. Side openings, X X, having doors a: 9:, Fig. 2, are provided above the grates for convenience in' kindling the fires and removing clinker. Fuel-supply openings b 12, having tightly-closing lids a a, are provided at the tops of chambers B B.

The steam superheating and gas fixing chambers C C are, for convenience and efficiency, arranged in the base or lower half of the cupola. at one side forms flue 0*, connecting chambers B and C for the passage of superheated steam up into the fuel, or gas down into the fixingchamber, and an opening, a, in the bottom of such partition leads from the flue into. chamber C. In order to provide an effective and The main fire-brick partition 0" convenient heating-surface, chambers C C are provided with vertical lire-brick partitions c 0, extending alternately from top and bottom, nearly the height of the chamber and at the proper distance apart to form vertical connecting passages or flues. The partitions resting upon the bottom rise to within a distance of two to fiveinches from the top of the chamber, and the partitions extending from the top project to within a similar distance from the bottom of the chamber, thus providing passage-ways alternately at top and bottom and between the partitions. laying up the partitions, the oil-vaporizing chambers or retorts I) I) are set in position extending transversely through chambers C C and the contained partitions, and opening into passageways 0". Two or more retorts may be set in each chamber, and two, as

shown, will usually be sufficient. Their outer projecting ends are closed with tight-fitting lids d, and with such ends the oil-supply pipes N N, having valves n 92 are connected. Pipes Ir, for supplying water-gas, also connect with the ends of the retoris. A gas-takeoff pipe leads from each fuel-chamber and each superheating and fixing chamber, so that gas or products of combustion can be passed off in either direction. Pipes l 1 connect the bases of chambers O l with the base of the vertical steam-boiler E, one pipe connecting on each side of the vertical partition of the boiler. The gas-take-o'l'f pipes of the fuelchambers are peculiarly arranged and con- .neeted,whercby importantresult-s are secured, as described below.

At a distance about one third the height of each fuel.-chaml:)er,.below its top, a circular horizontal line, P, is provided in the brickwork, and is connected with the interior of the chamber by numerous short ducts or ports 2), inclined downward, as shown, so that fuel will not lodge in them. In operating with bituminous coal for the manufacture of gas in a eupola furnace it has been found quite advantageous to conduct off the gases below the surface of the fuel, and thelatter is therefore maintained at a height of from ten to twenty five or thirty inches above the ports 1). By this arrangement the condensable tarry vapors distilled from fresh charges of bituminous coal are compelled to pass down into the heated fuel below, and are thus converted into fixed gas. Another important ad vantage arising from this arrangement and method of operating is that the coal is not baked at the top into a hard crust or arch, since the hot water-gas arising from the illcandescent i'uel below does not pass through the fresh charges, and the latter are therefore distilled at a more moderate heat, so as to produce good coke.

\Vhere the hot water-gas has been passed off directly through the fresh fuel the heat was so high as to melt the coal and cause it to run together into coherent cakes, which retarded the flow of gas and passage of air, and other-- wise interfered with the operation of the generator. By my present improvements I overcome these difficulties and secure much better results. Gas-eduction pipes G l lead from flues P at the rear of the eupola and connect with the vertical pipes lI ll which connect below with pipes F F, as shown in Figs. 1 and Pipes I I. extend above pipes (.ir G and connect them with a hydraulic seal-box. (Not here shown, but which is arranged in a well-known manner to seal the ends of the pipes in a liquid.) A short pipe, g, connects pipes I I, for conducting gas from one fuelchamber to the other when the valves are properly adjusted.

Valve-boxes U U, having large openings closed by lids 70, are placed at the junctn res of the pipes G II I and of the pipes G II I, and are provided with upper seats, 0", and lower seats, 5, to accommodate the ball-valves 71. 71.. Each ball-valve is suitably hung upon a lever-arm attached to a rocleshaft which passes through the casing, and is provided externally with an operating-hamlle, so that the valves can be raised or lowered upon either seat, as desired. Similar valve-boxes V V, having openings closed by lids 7, are bolted to and connect the pipes 1 II. and the pipes I!" II, and are provided with seats a c and with ball-valves ff, hung and operated like those above described.

A pipe, K, having valve '2', leads from each of the pipes G G and connects by means of branch pipes 7t with retorts I) l) for supplying them with hot water-gas. Steam-pipes may also connect with the retorts or with injecting-nozzles, to which the oil-supply pipes N are also connected for injecting and spraying the oil. The gas-inlet pipes may also be connected to such nozzle. Steam-sup 'il y pi pcs J J, having valves j 7", connect with the pipes F l for supplying steam to the bases of chambers (10. Pipes L supply steam direct to the fucl'chamber, one branch, l), having valve 1 connecting with flue P, and one branch, L, having valve 1 connecting with the lower part of the chamber above the grate.

Air-blast pipes connect with the tops of the fuel-chambers and with the superheatin and fixing chambers through the medium of chamber 'l and vertical [inc (1. The main. airblast pipe R leads from the blower Q, and branch pipes R extend up at the sides of the eupola and connect by short branch pipes on in, having valves 0', with the tops of the fuel-chambers, and by short branch pipes 0, having valves 1, with lines or chambers '1, formed in the brick walls at the fronts of chambers (l U. Numerous small ports I inclined downward open. from chamber '1. into vertical tl nos (1", so that numerous fine streams of air may be mingled with and cause complete combustion of hot gaseous products passing down from the fuel at the time of heating up the chambers. The boiler E is divided into two chambers, c e, by a vertical division-plate, as shown in Fig. 5, and inlet- I TO pipes F F connect one with each chamber, and outlet-pipes M M at the top also connect one with each chamber and extend into the hydraulic seal-box P.

Pipes 0 0 rise from pipes M M and open at top into the usual stack-pipe. They are provided at top with ball-valves 0, having suitable operating-levers. \Vhen the valves are open, products of combustion escape into the stack; but when they are closed gas passes through pipes M M into the seal-box. Since the ends of pipes M M are sealed by liquid in the box, the resistance is suflicient to prevent the flow of products of combustion in that direction when valves 0 are open, and also to prevent the escape of gas by backpressure; but when valves 0 are closed gas passes from pipes M M through the liquid seal in the usual manner. A steam dome or drum, S, connects with the top of the boiler. An oil-pump, N, and elevated tank 0 supply oil to the vaporizing-retor'ts. Openings .2 a, Fig. 2, having tight-fittin g caps, are formed in the Walls at the bases of the chambers O C for removing soot and ashes from between the partitions c c.

In order to make illuminating-gas, all the chambers of the cupola are preferably operated together, as follows: The lids a bein g removed, fires are kindled 011 the grates and at first allowed to burn by natural draft. Coal or coke is gradually fed in till deep beds of fuel are formed and well ignited. Then all the lids and doors of the cupola are closed, valves f f raised upon seats 6' e, and valves h h dropped upon seats 5 and stack-valves 0 both opened. Blasts of air from the blower are now admitted through valves 0" and pipes on and driven down through the fuel. hen combustible products are discharged from the fuel, air-b1asts are admitted through pipes 0 and valves t into chambers T, from which it is distributed through ports t to the hot gaseous products in flue O", causing their combustion, and the highly-heated products pass through chambers O O, imparting their heat to the brick partition-Walls, and pass thence by way of pipes F F into and up through the boiler and out. of pipes O O to the stack. The blasts are continued till beds of fuel of sufficient depth are heated to incandescence, and chambers C C are heated to the proper temperature for superheating steam and converting hydrocarbon vapors into a. fixed gas. The fuel should be heated to a temperature bet-ween 2,000 and 3,000 Fahrenheit, and the chamber 0 or C, which is to be used as the steam-s11perheater, should be heated to about 2,500 Fahrenheit, while the chamber 0 or C, which is'to be used for fixing gas, should be heated to a temperature between 1,200 and 1,800 Fahrenheit. The bodies of fuel and chambers O C, being properly heated, the air-blasts are shut off, stack-valves o are closed, valves h hare dropped upon seats .9 s, and valve f" is dropped upon seat a, while valve f is retained upon the upper seat, 6, (see Fig. 3,) providing an open passage from chamber 0 through pipe F to the boiler and seal-box. Steam is now admitted through pipe J and pipe F into the base of chamber C,through which it passes and becomes highly superheated, and in this condition passes directly up into the incandescent fuel in chamber B, where it is decomposed, forming water-gas, which passes by ports 19 below the surface of the fuel into the flue P, and thence by pipes G, g, and G, flue P, and ports 1) into fuel-chamber 13 some distance below the surface of the fuel. In passing down through the fuel in this chamber carbonic acid present in the gas is converted into carbonic oxide, and hydrocarbon vapors given off from the fresh charges of bituminous coal are converted into fixed gas. By this method of operating bituminous coal slack or dust can be successfully fed onto the fuel above ports p and there distilled, since the hot water-gas does not pass through and melt it and the hydrocarbon vapors evolved pass into the hot fuel below and are converted into fixed gas. Good coke is thus produced, which descends in the chambers ,as the ash is removed below. By the use of bituminous coal much carbureted hydrogen or marsh-gas is produced, which is a valuable addition to the watergas. The mixture of water-gas and marshgas passes from chamber B down through the grate into chamber 0, where itis carbureted and fixed. As gas passes from chamber B through pipe G, valve '1; in pipe K is opened and a regulated portion of gas is passed by pipe K and branches is into retorts D at the same time that regulated streams of hydrocarbon oil are admitted to the retorts. The oilis vaporized and diffuses in the gas, and is carried thereby into flue 0 where it meets and carburets the gas passing down from the fuel. The carbureted gas passes through fixing-chamber C, where it is combined and converted into a fixed gas, which passes through the boiler to the seal-box, from which it is conducted by pipe h to the condenser. (Not shown.) I

At the time gas is passed through the second fuel-chamberB a limited supply of steam may be admitted by pipe L into fine P and passed with the gas into the fuel and decomposed. This will be advantageous when the fuel is at a very high heat. The manufacture of gas is continued as above described so long as the fuel and the fixing-chamber remain at the proper decomposingand converting temperature. As soon as the beds of fuel and the chambers O C are cooled below the proper working temperature the steam and oil are shut oif, the valves for escape of products of combustion are adjusted, as before described, and the air-blasts again admitted till the bedies of fuel and chambers O C are again properly heated. During the second gas-making run the direction of gas and steam through the chambers may be reversedthat is, the steam may be admitted to and superheated in chamber 0 and the gas be carbureted and fixed in chamber C and discharged from iis base through pipe F. Thus at each successive run the direction of the currents may be reversed or, if desired, the direction of the cur rents may be reversed during the run. By this method of operating carbon which may be deposited in the fixing-chamber during one run or period is taken up by the steam during a subsequent run or period and the chambers thus kept clean.

\Vith the pipe connections and valves shown, either set of chambers, as B O or 13 O, can be operated separately for manufacturing gas, while the other set is being blasted with air. If heating-gas onlyis desired,valve f closed down on seat a, and valve h is closed upon seat r after the fuel and superheating chambers have been heated, and steam is then superheated by passage through chamber 0, and is decomposed in the fuel in chamber B, and the resulting gas is conducted off through pipes G, 11, and F. Both. sets of chambers may be operated in this way at the same time. Should it be desired to make illuminating-gas by the use of a separate set of chambers, they are first heated. Then valve f is raised against seat 6', and valve 7L is raised against seat 0", and steam is admitted into the upper part of the fuel through fiue P, is decomposed by passage downward, and the resulting gas is carbureted in the fixing-chainher (i, and is conducted off through pipe F. In this way one set of chambers, as B G, is used for making illuminating-gas, while the other set, as B U, is being blasted with air and heated up; or both sets may be simu1taneously blasted and heated up and independently used for making gas.

The bodies of fuel may be advantageously heated by forcing the air-blasts down into the fuel and discharging the products of coinbustion near the tops of the chambers, and can be accomplished by closing valve f upon lower seat, a, and raising valve it onto seat 0-, admitting the air-blast through pipe 171., and forcing it down into the fuel, and permitting the products to rise and escape through ports 1.) and fine Pinto pipe G, from which they pass through pipes H and F to the boiler. By this method the air penetrates down through the fuel and circulates upward, causing uniform combustion, and the products readily escape by way of ports 1) and fine 1.

By means of the downward air-blasts ashes are blown down through the grate and the fuel is kept clean.

The vaporizing-retorts passed through the fixing-chambers afford increased carb uretingsurface and prevent the too sudden exposure of the oil to the highly-heated brick, whereby waste by burning is prevented. The ballvalves afford great convenience and facility in operating the apparatus.

The apparatus is adapted for making either heating or illuminating gas under a variety of conditions.

Ilaving described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure "by Letters Patout, is-

1. The process of manufacturing gas, which consists in superheating steam, then decon1- posing it in contact with a body of incandescent fuel, and at the same time distilling bituminous coal on top of and in contact with the body of incandescent fuel, and causing the resulting gas and vapors to pass downward through the distilling-coal into contact with the heated fuel below for converting them into fixed gas, and finally conducting off the coal-gas and the water-gas together, some dis tance below the surface of the distilIing-coal and above the bed of the incandescent fuel, whereby fresh charges of bituminous coal are successfully coked and the hydrocarbons distilled therefrom converted into fixed gas without destructive decomposition.

2. The process of manufacturinggas, which consists in heating a body of fuel to inincandescence by blasting with air, and by means of the resulting hot products heating a chamber containing refractory material, then shutting off the air and superheating steam in contact with the hot refractory material, decomposing it in contact with the incandescent fuel, and at the same time distilling bituminous coal in the form of lump or slack, in contact with the incandescent fuel, and causing the resulting gas and vapor to pass down through the distillingcoal into contact with the incandescent fuel for converting them into fixed gas, and finally conducting off the coal-gas and water-gas together below the more recent charge or charges of fresh coal and above the bed of incandescent fuel, whereby the coal is better coked, the formation of hard crusts by excessive heat of the water-gas is avoided, and the hydrocarbons are converted into fixed gas.

The process of manufacturing gas,which consists in heating two bodies of fuel to incandescence by blasting with air, burning the resulting gaseous products, and thereby heating two superheating and fixing chain bers, snperheatin g steam by passin it through one superheating-chamber, decomposing it by passage up through one body of incandescent fuel, and at the same time causing distillation of fresh charges of bituminous coal in contact with the bodies of incandescent fuel, and passing the evolved gas and vapor and water-gas from below the recently-charged coal into the second body of fuel below its surface and down. through it for converting carbonic acid into carbonic oxide and hydrocarbons into fixed gas, then carbureting the mixed gas by means of hydrocarbon liquid, and finally combining and fixing the carbureted gas by passage through the heated fixin g-ch amber.

4-. In a cupola gas-generating furnace, the fuelchamber having a circular fine in its wall, education-ports opening therefrom into the ITO chamber, and a connected gas-takeoff pipe arranged at a distance below its top and above its central portion, in combination with an air-blast pip'e connecting with the top of the furnace, and a steam-supply pipe connecting with the base of the fuel-chamber, for the purpose described.

5. In a cupola gas-generating furnace, the fuel-chamber having an air-blast pipe connecting with its top, and the gaseduction pipe connecting below its top, as described, in combination with the superheatin g and fixing chamber placed at the base of the cupola, the connecting-fine C and vaporizing-retorts extending transversely through the superheating and fixing chamber and opening into fiue O for the purpose described.

6. In combination with the fuel-chamber of a cupola gas-generator, the deep fire-clay grate-bars resting upon the floor of the chamber, for the purpose described.

7. In a cupola gas-generating furnace, the superheating and fixing chamber having Vertical partitions forming connecting-fines, and the vaporizing-retorts extending transversely through the chamber and opening into a flue leading from the fuel-chamber, forthe purpose described.

S. The two fuel-chambers connected by a pipe or pipes for the passage of gas from one to the other, in combination with the two superheating and fixing chambers having the vaporizing-retorts, and the outside gas-inlet pipes, K it, leading from the connecting gaspipes of the fuel-chamber into the retorts for conducting water-gas to such retorts to mix with oil -vapor therein generated, all as described.

9. In a cupolagas-generator, the fuel-chamber above and the connected superheatin g and fixin chamber below, in combination with gas-takeoff pipes G and F, connectingpipe H, connecting valve-boxes U V, having seats at top and bottom, and the ball-valves suitably hung, so as to be adjustable upon either seat, for the purposedescribed.

10. The combination of the two fuel-chambers and two superheating and fixing chambers connecting therewith, and the double steam-boiler, pipes, and valves connecting the fuel-chambers with each other and with the chambers of the boiler, and pipes and valves connecting the superheating and fixing chambers with the chambers of the boiler, whereby either gas or products of combustion may be passed through each chamber of the boiler, as described.

11. The two fuel-chambers and the two superheating and fixing chambers connecting with such fuel-chambers, in combination with pipes F F, having valve-boxes and valves connecting the superheating and fixing chambers with the double boiler, pipes G, G, and g, and valve-boxes provided with double seats, and ball-valves connecting the two fLlGI-O]1L1I1 bers, and the pipes H H connecting pipes G G with pipes F F through the medium of the valve-boxes.

12. The two fuel-chambers connected by a valved pipe or pipes below their tops and below the level at which the fuel is maintained, in combination with two superheating and fixing chambers having steam-supply pipes and valved take-oft pipes for gas and products of combustion, as described.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BURDETT LOOMIS.

Vitn esses:

BURDETT LooMIs, Jr., ETTA E. LooMIs. 

